The mission of the Save "Old" Prentice Coalition is to convince key decision makers to protect this modern masterpiece from demolition by designating it a Chicago Landmark. This effort is being led by a coalition of organizations that includes: docomomo, Landmarks Illinois, The National Trust and Preservation Chicago.

The building is in imminent threat of demolition by Northwestern University (NWU), which plans to landbank the site until funds are eventually found to build their own purpose-built research lab facility. A reuse study by Landmarks Illinois has demonstrated that there are reuse options for the building that would allow NWU to incorporate it into their plans.

Prentice Women’s Hospital, designed by noted Chicago architect Bertrand Goldberg and completed in 1975, was groundbreaking for its cutting-edge design, advanced engineering and its progressive plan for the organization of medical departments and services. Its column-free floor plates makes this building especially adaptable for reuse.

Please sign this petition, which will be presented to City of Chicago officials to demonstrate the broad-range recognition that Prentice is an irreplaceable modern masterpiece that deserves Landmark protection.

If the Commission on Chicago Landmarks grants historic Prentice preliminary landmark status, it will allow time for key decision makers like you to thoroughly evaluate the opinions and findings of all parties concerned about the future of this building.

In these uncertain economic times, fast-tracking the demolition of world-renowned architecture – in this case for the immediate use of land banking – denies the City the opportunity to evaluate all options. The option of adaptive reuse, which is a more sustainable solution and one that permits this irreplaceable modern masterpiece to remain in the inventory of Chicago’s world-class architecture, should be properly evaluated.